Christmas Day is upon us, and people across the globe are coming together to enjoy a day of celebration with family and friends.
As people exchange gifts and indulge in turkey and mince pies, Google is also getting in on the Christmas festivities. But how is the internet search engine celebrating this year?
How is google marking the Christmas period in 2017?
Google began the Christmas period last week with the first in a festive series of Doodles.
Starting on Monday 18 December, the first one showed animated penguins and parrots packing their suitcases in preparation to spend the big day together.
Another image since then showed a series of boxes marked 25, 31 and 1, hinting the follow-up Doodles would appear on some of the standout dates in the Christmas holiday period.
Today's Doodle shows the penguins meeting with their parrot friends, all bearing gifts to exchange over the course of the day.
What other celebrations are happening apart from Christmas?
It’s easy to forget amid all the Christmas cheer that December is a particularly important month for other religions too, with Islam, Judaism and Buddhism among those also celebrating major festivals.
One of these is Chanukah – the Jewish festival of lights which typically falls during the month of December and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple after it was ransacked by King Antiochus of Syria.
Jews traditionally celebrate the festival by eating foods fried in oil, including doughnuts and potato latkes. Chanukah gelt – meaning money, but generally used to refer to chocolate coins – is given to children as a present and games are played with a spinning top known as a dreidel.
Ashura, for which the date varies year on year, is a Muslim festival celebrated in both Sunni and Shia Islam. It is considered to be a time for spirituality, self-reflection and repentance.
Many Muslims will wear mourning clothes, refrain from listening to music and avoid any kind of celebratory event such as parties or weddings. In some countries, people will cut themselves using knives or chains or carry out self-flagellation. Some Sunni Muslims also fast on the day.
Another celebration is the Feast of St Nicholas, which takes place on 6 December, and is celebrated by Christians to mark the tale of the man on whom the tale of Santa Claus is based.
The legendary figure of Saint Nicholas was born in the third century AD and is said to have used his large inheritance to help the poor and needy. Known for his generosity and love of children, he died on 6 December and the anniversary of his death soon became a day of celebration.
In some countries, the Feast of St Nicholas, and not Christmas, is the main present-giving day, and children will leave shoes or stockings out in the hope they will be filled with presents during the night.
Why is Christmas Day on December 25?
Christmas Day is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but there is actually no official date of the birth recorded in the Bible.
By the early-to-mid fourth century the Western Christian Church placed Christmas day on 25 December.
Christmas 2016 around the world: in pictures
14 show all Christmas 2016 around the world: in pictures
1/14 A member of the Iraqi security forces holds a lit candle at Christmas Mass in a church won back from Isis on the outskirts of Mosul REUTERS/Ammar Awad
2/14 German tourists Mimi Wiebeling (L) and Pauline Lapetite carry surfboards as they walk into the surf wearing Christmas hats at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Christmas Day in Australia, December 25, 2016. David Gray
3/14 A soldier dressed as Santa Claus waves from a military helicopter during a football match to commemorate the Christmas Truce of 1914 at the ISAF Headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan Omar Sobhani
4/14 A crane of the Hanjin Scarlet container ship pulls up donated food, supplies and gifts as volunteers deliver them to the stranded crew aboard the ship. Several maritime groups and members of Victoria's Filipino community gathered up more than a ton of Christmas provisions for the 16-member crew of the container ship Darryl Dyck
5/14 Chimpanzees examine their gifts at the Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, USA Allen Eyestone/Palm Beach Post via AP
6/14 A Palestinian protester dressed as Santa Claus runs to avoid tear gas during clashes with Israeli border police officers, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem Nasser Nasser
7/14 A Christian gives final touches to a mural of Santa Claus in preparation for Christmas celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan Shakil Adil
8/14 People gather by a Christmas tree near damaged buildings during Christmas eve in al-Hamidiyah neighbourhood in the old city of Homs, Syria December 24, 2016 Omar Sanadiki
9/14 Divers dressed as Santa's Elves swim with a Manta Ray in an aquarium on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at the South East Asia Aquarium of Resorts World Sentosa, a popular tourist attraction in Singapore Wong Maye-E
10/14 An Indian street vendor sells Santa hats and masks ahead of Christmas in Ahmadabad, India Ajit Solanki
11/14 A boy skis along a street near Montreal, Canda Graham Hughes
12/14 A girl holds a costume received during a toy distribution program with Miguel Pizarro, deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), at the slum of Petare in Caracas, Venezuela December 20, 2016 A girl holds a costume received during a toy distribution program with Miguel Pizarro, deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), at the slum of Petare in Caracas, Venezuela December 20, 2016
13/14 Sri Lanka has unveiled a towering Christmas tree, claiming to have surpassed the world record for the tallest artificial Christmas tree AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena
14/14 The sunrise over Bingham, Nottinghamshire, as severe weather warnings remain in place for Christmas Neil Squires
This date is said to have been chosen because it marks exactly nine months after the Christians believe Jesus was immaculately conceived, on 25 March.
Many believe 25 December was chosen because the Winter Solstice - which marks the year’s shortest day – took place around this date.
This meant winter was over and spring was coming to pagans with Romans dedicating the time to the god Saturn. Early Christians are thought to have appropriated the festival as a means of converting new followers.
CHRISTMAS 2017 is in full swing, with people across the globe opening presents, tucking in to festive feasts and all the other things we associate with December 25.
With the holiday spirit spreading across the world, Google is getting in on the act – here's how they're marking the Christmas period.
The Google Doodles feature penguin and parrot pals
How is Google marking Christmas 2017?
Google are reflecting the Christmas period with a festive series of Doodles, which began on Monday, December 18.
Interactive, animated images feature penguins and parrots arranging to spend the big day together.
In the first of the cartoon-style designs, displayed on the search engine's homepage across much of the world, the penguins were seen packing their suitcases for a trip to see their parrot pals.
A series of boxes marked 25, 31 and 1 in another image hinted that the follow-up Doodles would appear on some of the standout dates in the Christmas holiday period.
Today's Doodle shows the penguins meeting with their parrot friends and exchanging gifts for the festive day.
Google In the first festive Doodle we see the penguins packing their bags for a Christmas holiday
Teasing their festive concept, Google said: "The festive season is here and this pair of slippery-footed siblings are excited to spend time with their warm-weather relatives!
"Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks to see what kind of fun this feathery family has in store."
Google Another Doodle teases when we'll learn the next stages of the birds' tale
Why is Christmas Day on December 25?
Christmas Day is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but there is actually no official date of the birth recorded in the bible.
By the early-to-mid fourth century the Western Christian Church placed Christmas day on December 25.
It is thought that date was chosen as it is exactly nine months after the Christians believe Jesus was immaculately conceived, on March 25.
December 25 might have also been chosen because the winter solstice and the ancient pagan midwinter festivals called ‘Saturnalia’ and ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti’ took place around this date.
The solstice, marking the year's shortest day, meant winter was over and spring was coming to pagans with Romans dedicating the time to the god Saturn.
‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti translates to ‘birthday of the unconquered sun’ and was held on December 25, when the Romans thought winter solstice took place.
Early Christians may have given this festival a new meaning and adopted it to be the birth of Christ.
LATEST GOOGLE DOODLES WINTER SHOW A Google Doodle is marking the winter and summer solstices around the world LEGENDARY SCIENTIST Robert Koch remembered with a Google Doodle celebrating his work INGENI-HOUSZ BOFFIN A Google Doodle is celebrating scientist Jan Ingenhousz – here's why LEARN TO CODE Google Doodle celebrates 50 years of Kids Coding GREEN-FINGERED Gertrude Jekyll is one of the world's most famous garden designers UP WITH THE KIDS Here's the lowdown on Children's Day as it's marked by a Google Doodle PUNCH ABOVE ITS WEIGHT 131st anniversary of the hole puncher celebrated with Google Doodle salut, sabah! Get the lowdown on Sabah, Lebanese singer honoured with a Google Doodle google noodle Get the recipe for a delicious Pad Thai - celebrated by a Google Doodle FORST OF NATURE Jackie made history by coming out in 1969 - here's the lowdown on her life HORROR SHOW Halloween 2017 Google Doodle video follows Jinx the ghost on costume hunt
What is a Google Doodle?
In 1998, the search engine founders Larry and Sergey drew a stick figure behind the second 'o' of Google as a message to that they were out of office at the Burning Man festival and with that, Google Doodles were born.
The company decided that they should decorate the logo to mark cultural moments and it soon became clear that users really enjoyed the change to the Google homepage.
Google Google celebrated the Autumn Equinox with a themed doodle
In that same year, a turkey was added to Thanksgiving and two pumpkins appeared as the 'o's for Halloween the following year.
Now, there is a full team of doodlers, illustrators, graphic designers, animators and classically trained artists who help create what you see on those days.
Among recent Doodles were ones commemorating German scientist Robert Koch, Jan Ingenhousz (who discovered photosynthesis) and the 50th anniversary of kids coding languages being introduced.
Earlier in the year, the search giant celebrated the 2017 Autumn Equinox , which marked the official ending of summer and the coming of autumn.
December has become synonymous of Christmas, and New Year.
However, there are other other celebrations taking place around the world such as Kwanzaa or the Bodhi Day. Below we take a look at the different celebrations taking place this month.
Hogmanay - Dec 31
The Scots word for the last day of the year is synonymous with the celebration of New Year. Hogmanay's origins go back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Vikings with parties in late December. It normally lasts three days.
New Year's Eve - Dec 31
The last day of the Gregorian year is celebrated in the evening with social gatherings and festivities go past midnight into New Year's Day, January 1.
Boxing Day - Dec 26
Originating in the UK, Boxing Day is the day after Christmas Day. It started as a day to give gratitude for services rendered.
In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.
Kwanzaa - Dec 26
In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga launched the holiday of Kwanzaa.
Celebrated from December 26 to January 1, it is a week of celebration held in the United States, honouring African heritage in African-American culture.
Christmas - Dec 25
Christmas is a festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus Christ, in most Western ecclesiastical traditions.
Rio's only professional black Santa is bringing diversity to #Christmas celebrations. pic.twitter.com/VM2ib2gyuN — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 25, 2017
HumanLight - Dec 23
A humanist holiday, HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001. it is designed to celebrate and express the positive human values of reason, compassion, humanity and hope.
Solstice - Dec 21
Officially the first day of winter in the astronomical calendar, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year.
Happy winter #solstice! Here's what you need to know about the shortest and longest day of the year: https://t.co/UfVy5XUoli pic.twitter.com/dgXhhiiUvG — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 22, 2017
Las Posadas - Dec 16
A celebration that takes place from December 16 to December 24, it re-enacts Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.
Translation: In El Salvador, Las Posadas is a popular tradition. The children go through the streets of the villages asking for an inn for Jose and Maria in the days before Christmas.
#ChristmasPostcards
En El Salvador son tradición popular las Posadas. Los niños recorren las calles de los pueblos pidiendo posada para José y María en los días previos a la navidad. pic.twitter.com/zZS0rDIR3B — Luis Carlos Díaz (@LuisCarlos) December 24, 2017
Hanukkah - Dec 12
The Jewish festival of lights typically falls during the month of December and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple after it was looted by King Antiochus of Syria.
It is celebrated for eight nights and days.
According to tradition, in the middle of the destruction, the people found enough oil to lit the menorah, a candelabrum, but the supply lasted for eight days - enough time for more to be procured.
Bodhi Day - Dec 8
This is the Day of Enlightenment celebrating the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment, while sitting under a tree. This date is celebrated by Buddhists across much of south-east Asia, including India, China and Vietnam.
Happy #BodhiDay! This Buddhist holiday celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha when after meditating beneath a Bodhi tree, he discovered the eightfold path and the four noble truths which now form the core of the Buddhist beliefs. #interfaith (AP Images) pic.twitter.com/eoeCdOauLV — U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) December 8, 2017
Conception of Virgin Mary - Dec 8
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the celebration of belief in the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary.
Feast of St. Nicholas - Dec 6
This is the basis of the tale of Santa Claus, and is celebrated by Christians on December 6.
The figure of Saint Nicholas was born in the third century AD and it is said he used his inheritance to help the poor. He died on December 6, and the anniversary of his death soon became a day of celebration.
Mawlid - Dec 1
Mawlid is the date that celebrates the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This year the celebration started on November 30, and ended on the evening of December 1st.
Google doodle, with their elaborate celebrations of December global festivities, is definitely spreading cheer all around. Google doodle, with their elaborate celebrations of December global festivities, is definitely spreading cheer all around.
The holiday season is upon us and the festive cheer in the air is hard to miss. While people are busy baking cakes, wishing each other or making plans for Christmas, there are also some who have packed their bags and left for vacation. December is the month of cakes, gatherings, festivities and vacation and Google, with an adorable doodle, is celebrating just that.
Google Doodle today (December 25) features a pair of “slippery-footed siblings”, who were first featured on December 18. And like last time, the doodle unfolds through a series of brilliant illustrations which trace the penguin siblings journey from the Southern Hemisphere to the tropics.
While the series begins with the penguins packing their bags after receiving a call from a macaw couple, in today’s doodle they finally get to meet their friends and exchange gifts with them. The first slide shows them making arrangements to “spend time with their warm-weather relatives!”— two macaws living in the tropical area. In the third slide, all four of them can be seen enjoying a hearty meal.
The series will come to an end on January 1.
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